Grand National - John Butler Trio > Reviews > John Butler Trio Grand national

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great guitars, high level of musicianship
Disadvantages:	A little self indulgent

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I first heard John Butler when I was in a record shop in Perth (that’s Oz, not Scotland) and asked for some cool local grooves. JBT was the first thing the assistant played and I can still remember the moment: I wet gangbusters on him, as they say Down Under.
Since then I’ve bought all his albums, travelled to London (and Manchester) to see him and all in all been a bit of a fan. Although this new album is not as immediately brilliant as the last album, “Sunrise over sea”, it’s still JBT and he can do no wrong.
If you’ve not heard of him, Butler is a fantastic guitarist — he’s got to be one of the best in the world — and plays electric rootsy folk. However, even as a fan I can admit he can go on a bit: his twin loves are the environment and playing long, complicated guitar sections. My other half doesn’t really like him for this — he’s too prog rock but more than that he’s too blokey and in a guitarhead kind of way. When you see him live, guitar nuts are there drooling over his techniques. Still, I like him and the new album, while still heavy on virtuoso guitar work is not as edgy as other ones and the envi-ronment is less to the fore: Butler is in love and happy, and as a result the songs are softer and the single “Funky tonight” shows a fun side of Butler.
California-born Butler has lived in Oz nearly all his life and started off busking in Fremantle. His self-titled debut album is largely acoustic. Then came “Three”, a more electric offering, and then the phenomenal “Sunrise over sea” which went five times platinum in Oz and won him awards for best independent release, best blues and roots al-bum, best male artist and song of the year.
This new album is his first in two years (not counting a live offering) and it’s the usual mix of virtuoso guitar and folk, blues, funk and rock ‘n’ roll. He’s got Money Mark playing some key-boards, and a wild jazz bit to boot. Nearly every tune has got some kind of solo on it but it all has a live feel to it, as if it was one big jam.
For newcomers it’s probably a good entry into Butler’s work. Get the single “Funky tonight” if you’re not sure. If you like this buy “Sunrise over sea.”